Scottish farmed salmon exports are continuing to experience record growth, according to figures released by Scottish Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson.
Exports of fresh Scottish farmed salmon through May are up 37 percent, compared to the same period in 2010, to 34,840 metric tons. Scottish officials should soon confirm that salmon production increased to more than150,000 metric tons in 2010, the third successive annual increase.
“Scottish salmon is a high quality, delicious product that is becoming increasingly popular around the world — as illustrated by the latest booming export figures,” said Stevenson, who is attending Aqua Nor in Norway. “Last year salmon accounted for 36 per cent of the value of Scottish food exports, while the industry also provides much needed employment opportunities in our fragile rural communities.”
Stevenson will be joined at Aqua Nor by representatives of Scottish Development International (SDI), the Scottish Government, Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO).
Stevenson plans to meet with senior executives from some of the major salmon farming companies, as well as Lisbeth Berg-Hansen, Norwegian Fisheries Minister, and Pablo Galilea, Chilean vice minister for fisheries. Norway, Chile and Scotland are the world’s top three producers of farmed salmon.
“It’s important that we continue to promote this key product and encourage further investment in the industry, as well as working with others internationally on ways to continue improving the environmentalsustainability of aquaculture,” Stevenson added. “These are areas I will be discussing with my Norwegian and Chilean counterparts, while also sharing successes Scotland has had in the development of our industry.”
